Issue No: 301
9th March 2018
20th Jamadi ul Thani 1439 A.H.
Salamun alaykum,
Birth of Kawthar:
It was on Friday 20th Jamaadi al Thaani 615 C.E. that Sayyida Khadijatal Kubra, the first and most beloved wife of the Messenger of Allah gave birth, in Makka, to the only daughter of the Noble Prophet. This was in the 5th year of Bi'thah and 8 years before Hijra.
The birth of this exalted lady marked the fulfilment of the abundance presented to the Noble Prophet as narrated in Sura Al Kawthar.
Abundant Lessons:
Today we are celebrating the auspicious occasion of birth anniversary of Sayyida Fatima Zahra a.s.; the pure, pious, and struggling lady whom Allah SWT has granted infallibility. Her short life was full of messages to enable mankind to reach the peak of human values and bringing them closer to Allah SWT.
Testified in the Noble Qur'an:
Unfortunately, many people either give little attention or ignore these supreme, unmatched qualities of Sayyida Fatima a.s. They only remember the tragic aspects which unfolded in the life of this illustrious lady especially the brutal events after the sad demise of her father; the Noble Messenger of Allah.
One lofty characteristic we find in the life of this noble lady is the spirit of altruism and generosity. This is captured in the Noble Quran:
"And they feed for the love of Allah, the destitute, the orphan and the captive. Saying: we feed you for the sake of Allah alone; no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks. (Suratu Dahr: 76: 8-9)
On three occasions, at the time of breaking the fast, Sayyida Fatima and her family would hand over the little food they had prepared for iftar-breaking fast- to the Destitute, Orphan and Captive who came knocking on the door asking for assistance.
No doubt such an outstanding deed where no one went empty handed from the door of Ahlul Bayt and one that has been announced by Divine revelation does truly deserve celebration.
However, it is important that we do not let our indifference settle in our way of living such that we no longer are able to relate these messages to ourselves.
What do you do?
What we do with our lives? Where do you spend most of your money? Does it all go towards the latest fashion designer clothes, electronic gadgets, house renovations, exotic holidays and many other extravagant personal expenses?
How do we pass our time? What do you do most of the day? How much time do you grab to maintain spiritual upliftment in your life? How much time do you invest in family, friends and others; especially those whom you do not know?
What are your responses?
The responses to these questions are indicators to gauge our attachment to this beloved lady and Ahlul Bayt a.s.
Certainly, the amount of time and money we invest in others, not just on ourselves, as has been exemplified in the life of Sayyida Fatima Zahra a.s., are all ways of actively bringing to life our love of the Ahlul Bayt.
Will you bring a change to your life?
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
With salaams and duas
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat